SAN,
of Justice
Malami Sets Up
Nigerian Law Reform Commission
The Attorney-General
of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN has
called on the newly inaugurated members of the 9th Commission of
the Nigerian Law Reform to be guided by the rules and regulations
as provided by the Section 2 & 8 (1) of the Act.
Malami made the call
while inaugurating Commissioners of the Nigerian Law Reform
Commission (NLRC) chaired by Professor Jummai A.M Audi in Abuja on
Thursday 10th September, 2020.
The Minister asked them to ensure that all the rules and
regulations relating to management of the human, material and
financial resources of the Commission are adhered to in accordance
to the objectives of the Federal Government, as contained in
Section 8(1) (c) of the Act.
He added that, ‘’It is uniformly agreed that law as an
instrument of social engineering always served as the
instrumentality of meaningful reform in any civilized
society’’.
While highlighting some of the functions of the commission, Malami
said the commission should generally take and keep under review all
Federal Laws with a view to their systematic and progressive
development and reform in consonance with the prevailing norms of
the Nigerian Society; the commission is mandated under section5(2)
(a) and (b) of the Act to receive and consider proposals for reform
that may be referred to it by Honourable Attorney-General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice; Also the Commission may
also provide expert advice and information to Federal Government
Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the National Assembly or
other bodies with regard to proposals for the reform or amendment
of laws, and amongst others.
The Attorney-General
expressed appreciation towards the efforts and determination of the
Commission in achieving its mandate through the delivery of quality
Law Reform to strengthen governance of the nation and for aligning
itself with the Economic Recovery Growth Plan of the Federal
Government of Nigeria, urging them to give selfless service to the
nation.
He noted that the Nigerian Law Reform Commission was established in
July 1979 by the Nigerian Law Reform Act, Cap. N118, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Earlier in his
remarks, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent
Secretary SGF/PS Dayo Apata
(SAN), said that the Commission has a great role
to play to remove all obsolete laws and come out with a global best
practices.
He explained that on
the 19th December, the HAGF
wrote to the President requesting for review of the eminence
scholars, lawyers in the Commission while on
the 9th June, the Senate also
gave the approval for the inauguration of the eminence scholars as
members of the Board.
The newly appointed
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Jummai Audi in her remarks said
the surge in demand for reform of laws attest not only to the
abiding relevance of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission but also
its ultimate mandate and through the reform of laws.
Audi also said, ‘’in
order to meet this growing demand and expectations, the Commission
finds it imperative to reform itself through the legal instrument
that created it. Consequently, the Commission has proposed the
Nigerian Law Reform Act (Amendment) Bill which is before the
National Assembly for Concurrence.
She explained that the
Amendment Bill contains new provisions that if passed into law will
re-position the Commission under the Ministry of Justice for more
effective delivery of quality law reform and create a more
formidable synergy with other relevant sectors in the society.
‘’The Commission is
not dormant as people may think, it has produced many Reform
Reports which are heavily consulted and relied upon by other Legal
Stakeholders without the HAGF’S Permission”, she maintained.
The Chairman explained
that the Commission is currently at the concluding stage of Law
Revision Project before the COVI-19 pandemic and hopes to finalise
the Draft Revised Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2018 for
presentation to the Minister.
She furthers explained
that the goal of the project is to provide updated Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria for easy access to justice.
She expressed
appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for finding them worthy
of the appointment. She commended the generous encouragement by the
Minister and the necessary support to the Commission in all the Law
Revision Projects.
Giving Vote of thanks,
Commissioner Barr. Bassey Dan-Abia expressed profound gratitude to
God Almighty for making the inauguration a great success. He
thanked the HAGF, SG/PS and other members of Ministry for their
contribution towards ensuring that the Commission meets its mandate
in the Law Reform.
The newly inaugurated
Commissioners were
Prof. Jummai A. M. Audi
–
Chairman
Barr. Bassey Dan-Abia
– Commissioner
Hon. Muhammad B. O. Ibraheem
– Commissioner
Dr. Muhammad M. Aminu
–
Secretary, NLRC
Modupe Ogundoro
Deputy Director